Agency says Washington company conducted unauthorized fertilizer application flights without required certification
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a civil penalty of $289,215 against Gorge Drones of Stevenson, Washington, alleging the company conducted unauthorized agricultural drone operations in early 2025.
According to the FAA, the proposed enforcement action stems from 15 flights in which the company allegedly used an unmanned aircraft to dispense fertilizer without holding the required agricultural aircraft operator certificate. The agency also alleges the drone was not registered with the FAA and did not have an airworthiness certificate.
The FAA announced the proposed penalty on August 7.
“The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes a $289,215 civil penalty against Gorge Drones of Stevenson, Washington, for alleged unauthorized drone operations.”
According to the agency, the alleged violations occurred on various dates between March and April 2025.
Agricultural Drone Operations Face Additional FAA Requirements
The FAA regulates drones used to apply agricultural materials differently from aircraft flown only for imaging or inspection. Operators who dispense substances such as fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, or seeds must comply with additional federal requirements.
“The FAA alleges Gorge Drones operated a drone on 15 occasions to dispense fertilizer when it did not have an agricultural aircraft operator certificate. In addition, the FAA alleges the drone was not registered with the FAA and did not have an airworthiness certificate.”
The FAA’s announcement does not identify the specific aircraft involved or indicate whether the company held any other operational approvals.
Enforcement Highlights Importance of Regulatory Compliance
Agricultural drones have become one of the fastest-growing segments of the commercial drone industry. Farmers and service providers increasingly use unmanned aircraft to apply crop protection products, fertilizers, and cover crop seed with greater precision than many traditional methods.
Those operations, however, fall under a different regulatory framework than most commercial drone missions. In addition to Part 107 certification for remote pilots, operators who conduct aerial application generally need exemptions and operating authority specific to agricultural aircraft operations. Aircraft registration and other applicable certification requirements also remain in effect.
The FAA regularly uses civil penalties to enforce compliance with aviation regulations. A proposed civil penalty represents an allegation by the agency, not a final determination. Companies and individuals subject to an enforcement action have the opportunity to respond before the FAA issues a final order.
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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The story shows how useful agricultural drones can be while also highlighting how important the rules are for operating them safely.
I recently started experimenting with farm planning tools, and checking the requirements before using new equipment seems like a simple way to avoid costly mistakes.